Lee Brown, 87, has been volunteering at the Springfield Ambulance Corps for more than 43 years.

On July 10, family and friends gathered to surprise her with Springfield Hero banners on Saxer Avenue of her and her late husband, Alexander Brown, writes Pete Banan for the Daily Times.

She became a volunteer emergency medical technician with the Springfield Ambulance Corps back in 1980 while raising five children. 

Her son, Ray Brown, joked that she volunteered to get out of the house.

Brown decided to volunteer when she called an ambulance for her husband and was impressed with the work they did.

She stopped being an EMT in the late 1990s but continues to handle the business end of the ambulance corps.

“I said I could do this and I’ve volunteered ever since,” Brown said, holding back tears at the unveiling. “It was an honor to be part of it, the friends I’ve met here, the people in the ambulance corps are … friends forever.”

Lee Brown has also served as a school nurse for 35 years. Her husband mentored youth with the township athletic association.

Read more about Lee and Alexander Brown and their Springfield community service in the Daily Times.